A Moment of Appreciation for an Old Friend
While university life has helped me make new friends, there are connections I’ve cemented before UTM that remain strong to this day.
One of these friends of mine is Sophia Braganza, who I met in the middle of high school and is currently enrolled in a comparative physiology specialist as well as a molecular biology specialist. Although our postsecondary pathways have diverged from high school, I have stayed tight with Sophia and have come to see how dedicated she is to her university journey.
Alongside her studies, Sophia has enrolled in a Work Study program since last summer. The work position she has taken on through this program is a research assistant for EDI research in STEM education. “[M]y favourite part has been the communication aspect of the scientist features, and figuring out how to share their research in a way that’s comprehensible, pertinent to first-year STEM courses, and just compelling,” Sophia said. “Overall, it was the best feeling to be able to draw the first-year curriculum connections and spark student curiosity.”
To find a balance in Work Study, as she enrolled in the maximum number of courses for the program, Sophia has dedicated certain times of her day to particular tasks. “All I really think it came down to was time blocking and making a schedule,” she said. She also prefers to study in groups so that she can be held accountable by other people.
For others considering a Work Study program, Sophia suggested being discerning about the time commitment and what position will work best with your schedule. “What I like about this particular Work Study is that it’s really flexible, so I think it’s all about knowing how much you’re willing to stretch yourself,” Sophia said.
While her Work Study position caters more to her academic pathway, Sophia is also a UTM Library Ambassador, which often involves her giving library tours during Orientation. For Sophia, this position came from a place of love and appreciation for the library. Having spent a lot of time in the library in her first year, Sophia wanted to find a way to build her interpersonal skills while also giving back to the UTM community. “I used a lot of the research-like resources that they had and it helped me a lot with my projects and I’m like, ‘Hey, I would really love to share what I’ve learned,’” Sophia said.
One commitment that connects to both her pathway and personal ambitions is her position as a Hospital Elderlife Program volunteer at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where she works to prevent delirium in elderly patients. “I play games with them; I will do a lot of memory activities, provide mealtime support, lead light exercises, and so on,” she said. “I am there to support in any way I can, make sure that their minds aren’t really stagnating and putting them at ease whenever they’re confused about their situation, especially since many of them have dementia.”
This volunteer position has been shaped by some of Sophia’s personal experiences. She was previously a Palliative Care Meal Support volunteer at the Milton District Hospital since grade 12 before moving to Oakville. Prior to this experience, Sophia also volunteered at a retirement home following the loss of her grandfather. “My grandmother was the only one left and there was a lot of pain, there was grief, but there was a lot of our family coming together,” Sophia said. “I really wanted to be able to be with the elderly people and be able to support them in any way that I could, because I personally knew how difficult it was to stay away from family.”
Sophia’s grandmother has also played a big part in her passion for healthcare, as she is a four-time recurrent stroke patient as well as paraplegic and has been cared for by Sophia’s parents and aunt respectively. “I think my grandmother’s care has played a lot into our whole family dynamic. It really made me realize that I wanted to support old people in any way that I can in my career going forward,” she said.
Sophia is grateful for her past experiences and how they have allowed her to increase her professional network and attain a more hands-on position at the Oakville Hospital, as well as the connections she has forged with patients who may not often be visited, and the chance to help put their minds at ease. “It’s rewarding to be that person for them, even if it’s just for a while,” Sophia said.
Despite taking on many roles, Sophia has been able to discern what positions are most crucial to her academic and professional pathway and which ones she has to let go of. “I had to be mature and realize that I couldn’t overextend myself because then it would also drain me,” she said.
Since becoming friends with her through a few shared AP classes we had in high school—some of which she credits for helping prepare her for university life—Sophia has inspired me to go above and beyond for opportunities that will help shape my career path. She has also shown me the importance of knowing your personal limits and prioritizing quality time with family and friends as well as interpersonal growth through networking. I am proud to call her my friend and am glad for anyone whose path she crosses and heart she touches.
